Our country is in dire economic straits. Home losses and unemployment are at their highest rates ever, a food crisis is looming, global warming is a thorn in our side, and, oh yeah--gas prices are just about killing us. So what do we do? Go see Iron Man!!!

The movie opens with Tony Stark, an internationally famous tech genius, billionaire, and heir to his late father's weapons production company, being escorted across the desert in Afghanistan by the U.S. military, en route to a weapons demonstration. The convoy is viciously attacked, killing several Americans, and badly wounding Mr. Stark, with a bomb from his own company. He later awakens in an underground compound with a car battery attached to an electromagnet imbedded in his chest. The magnet is keeping shrapnel from entering Tony's chest, and killing him. A desert warlord has imprisoned him, and offers him his life, in exchange for building him one of these new-fangled weapons, so he can "rule the world." Tony goes to work, all right--with the help of his assistant, he builds a rudimentary iron suit, that enables him to breathtakingly escape the compound, and later be rescued.

Meanwhile, back at home, he was presumed to be dead. This near-death experience, as well as a frank view into the world that his weapons was subsidizing, causes him to inexplicably announce that, effective immediately, Stark Industries would no longer manufacture weapons. This causes his board of directors to be stirred into a tizzy, and they hurriedly spin the event into the ramblings of a violently shaken man. Tony believes his company has ceased producing weapons, and proceeds to work on a new iron suit. However, a reporter shows him proof that the weapons development and distribution were ongoing, and this propels the movie towards its climax.

Tony tinkers around, perfecting the new iron suit, assisted by the beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow ("Tipper"), who submits a flawless supporting role, showing that her "star" also rises, in the shadows. Tony also changes, from a serial womanizer, into a more committed admirer of Paltrow, and the romance developing here is underwritten by Paltrow's undying, tender commitment to Robert Downey, Jr.'s service. Once perfected, he wows the audience with a vengeful return mission to Afghanistan, where he visits "poetic justice" on the gang that had initially captured him. A few more missions of this mold create a tense situation for the U.S. military, which has to explain all this. And Stark is helped here by his military contact, and longtime friend, Colonel James "Rhody" Rhodes (Terrence Howard, of "Crash" and "Four Brothers" fame, as well as a long list of other credits), who turns in a very believable performance here, as a career company man, somewhat conflicted with his personal allegiance to Tony.

I don't want to spoil much more here, but there are some fairly unexpected twists that make this movie VERY much worth your while. You find yourself cheering on Iron Man, every step of the way, as he battles the forces of evil, from within and without, and, on a personal level, matures into a well-rounded, responsible billionaire genius. He encounters a villain that threatens to usurp his very life essence, and has to reach deep down inside, as well as employ the help of his friends, to throw off this ilk.

I was a "medium" collector of the title, and don't remember the origin, but I recall the "real" Stark as being a bit more crass than the silky-smooth Downey, Jr. in this work. On another level, however, Tony Stark is the embodiment of extreme indulgence here, true to his paper-based character. And to counter our dire economic straits, we are made to experience his extreme wealth, state-of-the-art private jet, stable of exotic cars and high-tech toys, as well as some of his liberties with women, and the "high-life." There is also a scene where he has a trio of stewardesses do a very seductive dance for him and Rhody, aboard his private jet, which, while only exposing bellies, is a highly-charged seductive scene that most sticks to my mind when I think of the film. I wanted to cover the eyes of our toddler and nephew here (and did, for the one sex scene (no frontal nudity)), but I was too shocked. And I have reason to believe that it also made a strong, negative impression on my 3 year-old girl, in that she has acted out some approximation of this debauchery (the dance), and may be getting the wrong idea of a woman's role in society, so parents be warned!

"Iron Man" is a GREAT, well-produced, and acted film! Being a Toshiba HD-A3" and HD-A35 owner, I was disappointed with the quality of the projection, which seemed washed-out and jagged, at times (non-digital), but the content was spectacular, with great special effects. The suit itself is gorgeous, with exceptional attention to detail--it is apparent that no corners were cut in the designs and cgi, as well as the seamless merging of the two. Die-hard fans, and newcomers alike will equally enjoy this film, even though it departs from the paperback in some minor respects. This is a production worth repeat viewing, and owning!

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Here are a few of my other movie reviews...

"Wanted" is What U Want Nothing More. No Spoilers
The Joker is "One Sick Puppy!!!"The Dark Knight
Black Snake Moan---VERY PROVOCATIVE!
Quite a Thrill Ride, Even for Non-fans! (Transformers)
Shrek is BAAAACK!!! (Shrek the 3rd)
Part-Comedy, and Part Thriller (Hot Fuzz)
Really Fires the Imagination-National Treasure 2
The Bourne "Realization"-- WHAT A RIDE!!!
The Core--A Witty and Inventive End-of-the-World Adventure!
Did You Know that P.S. Also Means Post-Supernatural?
Jet Li is the Dragon Emperor in latest Mummy Installment
Would You Be Afraid of A Bully Named "Cloverfield?" (Horror)



Recommended: Yes

Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Studio Screening/Premiere
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing